Swans - Failure

[TheNeverlasting]

If M.D.B never covered this song i would never discovered this realy great band.

So M.D.B. thank you for that

[TheHorridNightmareII]

@TheNeverlasting thats exactly how i found this too man

[BlackSabbathory]

Profound as fuck, this one.

[socialseer]

soft, serene and alleviating. a remedy in sound that reminds me of my family, my self and inspiring me to be patient and to just be. thank you M. Gira for helping me find these feelings with the sounds of Swans.

[MattyMattThing]

hello obnoxious sister this one is for you!

[PlayerHater2001]

This song has a negative vibe.

[Tengent]

I love his voice.

[sethboy66]

@Tengent I love you too... Oh wait you weren't talking to me... awkward.

[ofermisk]

Good time with this one :)

[bella7colour]

first time i've listened to Swans... and I am blown away by the lyrics.

[orionsic]

You can bank your hard-earned money on failure.

[mmeflaneuse]

Beautiful song. I'm so happy I heard it again today on KXLU, Los Angeles.

[nmespada]

I am a God Bless

Tell them My friend

[BeavisRevolution]

Damn this rules

[IchHasseDasSausage]

I was in a really happy mood before I put this song on. I feel really depressed now. I think it's fair to say my mood has never been changed this much by a song. Powerful stuff.

[IwBpetthe]

dep

[alex3das3Knoedel]

why not start a thread of interpretations. Who cares if you like. Belive me no one does. Youre wasting energy.

what does failure stand for ?

[blikeredaxis]

Swans are good. All the negative posts are from the people who are looking for things to hate.

If you don't like it, go away, and look for things you like.

Do NOT listen to music you do not like, then try to suppress it with comment.

It makes you look like a shallow person, with an agenda to hurt other people without having a love of music that you care about.

[MarsCoban]

Blessed are they that cannot relate to this song.

[amandolin00]

Pissing matches like these make me glad to be a writer and not a musician. Great fucking tune, thanks for the upload.

[termsofusepolice]

@will3890 It's just the difference between admiring musicians and admiring performance artists. Or, to put it another way - some are lovers of music while others are lovers of textures and statements.

[Undecim1612]

I muddle over these comments, and realize what kind of uncontrolled emotions this kind of hard hitting reality this sort of tune invokes.

[sh1et]

i want this played at my funeral

[sickolinokio]

i want this for my movie

[darksouldealer]

for years i have dared people to find a song more depressing than this...no one has met that challenge and believe me, depressing music is my forte...god that doesnt exist i love this song...

[zgates]

@darksouldealer I've been trying, myself. I can find SADDER songs, but there's nothing that matches the weight of this track. It sounds like it takes effort to say every word. The closest I've found is Johnny Cash's cover of "Hurt", but that's pretty cliche.

[RichardScroter]

@zgates

If you're looking for really sad music, check out Red House Painters. Medicine Bottle and Katy Song are good ones to start with.

[realMUSICisMUSE]

THE NEEDLE DROP!!!!

[panos11995]

Forever alone!

[sagovic]

@termsofusepolice ok, so I switched Failure and Swans around so that you won't have such a traumatic thing happen to you again. I am truly sorry, Sir. I hope.. you can forgive me.

[AttackShipOnFire]

@sagovic ; Sorry, Time to go.

[MrRubyscube]

@termsofusepolice Jeeze, you are one ignorant fuck. The band Failure were fans of Swans.. As were most other 90's alternative bands. As examplified on the album Thirteenth Step by A Perfect Circle wich contains both the Failure cover "The Nurse Who Loved Me" and the guest vocals of Jarboe (of Swans) on "Lullaby".

Swans are one of the most important and pioneering bands of alternative rock, get with the program dude.

[kaakatin]

@termsofusepolice You're such an open minded person. You must have a wide taste in music.

[termsofusepolice]

@kaakatin I have a wide taste in good music. Which is why, unfortunately, Swans isn't on that wide list. (I keep forgetting there are some music fans who don't believe a person has a right not to like a certain band. "No band sucks! They are all brilliant!")

[Isosyth]

@termsofusepolice Sorry to inform you but you said "Then I discovered Swans is some shit band with a shit song called Failure.". You have no right to then bitch when people call you out on it. Maybe if you were respectful with your first post then others would have been respectful with their replies.

[melkore31415]

@termsofusepolice actually Failure were big fans of Swans and are obviously influenced by their work (since Swans were already the major leading band in alternative rock by the time Failure recorded their first album). but now that you already posted your ignorant comments you would never admit you were wrong. the ego just won't let you, eh?

[spunkets]

The picture of a sad rabbit with an erect carrot phallus.

Hell, even I get that.

[Laughingclubsofindia]

tattooed on my arm very soon. this very bunny...

[SarcofagoBlackThrash]

Does Swans have other songs similar to this one?Please reply me,I'm new to the band :) and I'm looking forward to listening to more awesome songs like this one

[Rankmoistmeat]

@SarcofagoBlackThrash yo man, just check out the album ''White Light From the Mouth of Infinty'', they've got songs that are even better than this one. songs like ''Better Than You'', ''Power", ''Love Will Save You'',....they're all ass fucking super cool.

[rustinpieces]

@SarcofagoBlackThrash You can find this on White Light From The Mouth of Infinity, very hard and expensive to get (out of print) - but readily available on the double-album Various Failures which comprises a personal selection of songs from 4 albums, made by (Swans founder and the singer you hear) Michael Gira. If you want truly scary stuff, try the double-album Children Of God/World of Skin. It took me a few years to be able to listen to these entirely...!

[ChevyHerron]

this song is super deep. real epic. i understand where this guy is coming from. failure.

[psyonick7]

epic.. I don't deserve to be down here

But I'll never leave

And I've learned one thing

You can't escape the beast

In the null and void pit

of failure

[freddquadros]

Impressive and soturne song...

[MutantClannfear]

The vocals are a bit odd, but I like this.

[psyshock918]

11 people are failures

[MjXllcommando]

dang. ruined my day.

[ssaallttyyddaawwgg]

@MjXllcommando ha ha thats fkn funny right there

[MrManmachine1]

Does Sagovic or anyone else know who did the painting of the rabbit that accompanies this song. I find it interesting.

[sagovic]

@MrManmachine1 Deryk Thomas

[fataxel]

@MrManmachine1 The cover art is a painting by Deryk Thomas (WIKI)

[fataxel]

the faileeeoh

[touchandgod]

Cowards and honeyed money. Hate the body. Fail.

[zeroevilz]

this song touches my heart

[fataxel]

deppresion? bleah

[inimicalODDITY]

@fataxel Everyone goes through a little depression from time-to-time.

[srimecrime]

First there was Swans. And THEN there was light.

[sagovic]

@kmica2008 I love constructive posts like yours.

[Moonvomit666]

@rockon236 Torrent it. i found it np

[AICSLUDGE]

what should my first album from the swans be?!?! i cant decide! help plz!

[ral1334]

@AICSLUDGE Various Failures

[banksyknight]

@AICSLUDGE Children of God/World of Skin. Showcases all the sides of the band.

[skyfurr]

@AICSLUDGE

The earliest you can find, and work your way towards the latest -which you will find (mind blowing).

[d33dr0]

@AICSLUDGE  Filth

[vina55a]

@AICSLUDGE Filth.

[d33dr0]

@vina55a I love how we both said that :P

[evillurkswithinusall]

Huh, suicide?

This song is about being reduced to crushing poverty by... well... making it your livelihood to play music like this. Isn't that ironic? So, if you want to follow in Michael Gira's footsteps you better get used to living off of food stamps. Great song, btw.

[bloodyrockfire]

By listening to this track I find myself on a believed to be an abandoned battlefield considering the clash hasn't started yet but sadly arriving too late to save my folks traveling to far away from my prior location due the destruction of the machine then let to rot in this forsaken future.

[FractalBolt]

I want to kill myself every time I listen to this song.

[imagodtoya]

@FractalBolt R u still alive? I can relate to your anguish, get the same feelings every time I hear 'The Eagles'......'Welcome to the hotel California, Such a lovely place, Such a lovely face......'.......AAAAHHHHH

[666robinator]

This is one of those songs that would perfectly suit the mood during a scene in a movie where a downtrodden soul has one final contemplative/introspective moment.. just before he walks into a busy public restaurant or his place of employment and kills everyone inside.

[SuperSquishface]

@rockon236

You can get this song on the 'Various failures' album which is sold on MG's own label, Young God records...

[dahleric74]

I have the bunny tatted on the upper part of my right arm..

[riserobot]

"you can't escape the beast"

[trimi38]

LOL THIS SONG MAKES ME LMAO!!!!!

[cleaboy1]

Beautiful

[horseloverfatjr]

One of my favorite S W A N S songs for sure.

[BELL12366]

wow how come ive neevr heard of them before today??

[purulence666]

out fuckin standing song from a great band.

[peterchoyce]

everybody with the "depressing!" Please, it's a divine work of art. When someone can articulate it so vividly, it inspires me. Like Leonard Cohen of old, it's simply 'serious' music. Besides, whats so bad about 'depressing?' what? you like HAPPY music? Keep dancing, ravers...

[ifihaf2]

Despite the date faux pas Fischerspoonraff has a point, I think the vocals are reminiscent of The National, beautiful song anyway.

[andinoble]

@rockon236 the song is on Swans album Various Failures which collects most songs from this period of Swans on a double CD available on Amazon and from Young God records directly. Discogs.com has the original album "White Light From The Mouth Of Infinity" for $50.00 on CD or $61.00 on LP. They all rock :-)

[imagodtoya]

@andinoble I'm blissed to have brought all their first 8 albums on vinyl. But my pride and joy of all my record collection is my golden vinyl 'World of Skins' which was the LP that started my love for The Swans and in my opinion their best Album.

Give Thanks to Micheal for Touring again. I was afraid of dying without ever see them live.......

[DivadWCT]

Pretty good song and nice artwork.

[ScotteDio]

I know the feeling of the song, when just totally go wrong.

[ERaddock]

@rockon236 Get it on Various Failures, which is much more available than the original, and which has some awesome other tracks on it.

[Apoc897]

*slits wrists*

[acidxtasy999]

this is music from the deep dark clay knowing and despair and beauty of our existence on our last chance - you people better cop the fuck on and listen because i have a - long time ago - and its going to take me a long time to make the fuckin grade - hear me what i hav to say fuckers

[sagovic]

@rockon236 It's out of print and not re-issued, so might be hard to find. Try Amazon marketplace or Playtrade at play.com if you live in EU.

[JWRandall423]

I heard this song on "Flunked", an Intelligent Design debunking documentary, here on YouTube. Thought this was Tom Waits, at first. Shows what I know.

[autumnsoliloquy]

i dont know what the intended effect but this just lifted my spirits, i just spent 6mins laughing

[Teabonesteak]

It would be really funny to sync this song up with some fail vids. THE SINNKINGG LEADWEIIIIGHT OF FAAAAAILLLUREEE!

[industrymonkey]

Gira has a powerful voice.

[michaelrcooke]

The song is a kind of litmus test of psyche in its power. It's threatening to the depressed. But to the rest of us, the depth of Calvinist self loathing and misery on display can only make us feel happy and content where we are in the here and now because as least we aren't as bad off as the song's tortured protagonist.

[mountainenergei1]

We get the extended family round on boxing day and have a singalong to this one.

Aunty Noreen does the hmm... hmm... hmm...bits.

[jackshaw]

You can bank your hard earned money on FAILURE

[musicalkaratekid]

this is the first song ive ever listened to by swans...and i am very impressed indeed:)

[xpillmanx]

God I love this song

[gardini100]

what happend to him did he sell his finger or was the bidding to low

[TheHypermagic]

Perfect.

[stiggyh]

this song makes me so so happy :)

[customerjon]

Pure fuckin' brilliance.

[3ofusband]

@customerjon indeed it is, Ian Curtis eat your heart out LOL

[TVP4]

Wow. I've never felt so manic depressive in my life than when listening to this song. I'm at the 2:37 mark and I don't think I can finish the song feeling like this. His talking depresses the heck out of me, but the singing parts are funny for some reason, idk.

[quenecio]

@TVP4 It's called irony, you know?...

[KthoniaEcate]

i like this song..and his voice is making me tremble..

[maritimashipyard]

breathless

[AttackShipOnFire]

I seem to remember a Mike Gira tune from a while back called "Mad Uncle Mike" which featured a couple of kids going on about what they didn't want "Uncle Mike" to do to them, but Google hasn't helped. Any Swans fans know better?

[Inresurrection]

This is so incredibly depressing and amazing.

[AttackShipOnFire]

Everytime I listen to shit like this, I'm surprised I'm still alive the next day.Sometimes I really envy all the gun nuts across the pond. :-(

[happyhappy85]

Roll on Supersonic

[jeffdeanable]

Makes me feel not quite so alone. Good tune.

[vina55a]

@jeffdeanable Strange, it actually makes me feel MORE alone. :) Excellent song.

[onvarocks]

I'm wondering why this makes me feel happy. Because there's nothing to win @ or fail @ i guess...

[TravelMate2006]

I fascinated with his voice and that thick american accent.

[evafan92]

me gusta como suena la musica industrial... suena entre oscuro y algo mas ....

[Dilaltastic]

Wonder if they will actually release a new album this year.

[FourCornersOfReality]

This drives me to pure lament every time I endure this wonderful melody.

[Fischerspoonraff]

I can tell these guys were really influenced by The National, only a little worse, though. You can never beat the originals. :)

[sagovic]

Yeah, I guess it's kind of hard for a band that split up in 1997 to beat the originals, formed in 1999. Hehe.

Can't say, from a quick listen to the band, I understand what the rescemblance would be either.

[maurosgatos13]

@sagovic Hahaha!!! People should really check their sources before talking about a subject! Impressive song.

[Atraiterm]

@sagovic I heard that you like men.

[sagovic]

@Atraiterm I heard that your "insults" don't do much to fuzz me, and that I actually have forgotten about your existance by the time I am done writing this message.

[Atraiterm]

@sagovic What a pity... I am dealing with an amnesiac...

[zippywaite]

@sagovic

You both suck trying to out-due each other!!! fuck you!!! and i'm pathetic too!!!! fucking assholes and me

[sagovic]

@zippywaite Say what?

[jackkoffin1]

@Fischerspoonraff - Hmm? Well, that's an example of extremely dry wit, or somehow you typed some kind of backwards statement. Either way, you made me laugh today, so thanks!

[climohu]

@Fischerspoonraff

right... only that that there is that little negligible fact that the Swans and this song existed before The National where even founded.

[Alianger]

@Fischerspoonraff I'm not hearing it.

[pahhhhhhh]

@Fischerspoonraff MWEHEHEHEHAHEAHAHEEHAHEHEHEHAH­AHAHA !

[shabooba85]

@Fischerspoonraff ^^

[powersherlock]

@Fischerspoonraff

I think its best for you to look back at Swans discography and release dates and you'll see the originals vs the followers. Also, I doubt very much The National are near to the Swans musically, or indeed in terms of influence. Check em, they're heavy...

[powersherlock]

@Fischerspoonraff

I think its best for you to look back at Swans discography and release dates and you'll see the originals vs the followers. Also, I doubt very much The National are near to the Swans musically, or indeed in terms of influence. Check em, they're heavy and The National are not near their sonics...

[mrdanielsir]

@Fischerspoonraff

you best be trollin'

[SuperSquishface]

@Fischerspoonraff

You be trollin

[oldblee]

Idiot.

[McFlyYouBojo]

@Fischerspoonraff thats funny

[Swarmking]

Brilliantly poetic,honest and inspiring.

[AlexanderKnollwood]

Post-punk Johnny Cash aka...heavy Swans are growing on me at a dangerous speed.

[codeaires]

@AlexanderKnollwood This reminded me of Johnny Cash, too.

[Nugugerube]

This is possibly the greatest song i ever heard

[rongrelio]

otra joya mas de swans

[infinitytru]

this is genious

[nidaas]

fantastic,my dying bride recorded this track as well,cheak it out

[DesolationRow0]

one of the only songs in history which has no lyrics... i mean... you can't call it lyrics. it's poetry, pure and simply.

[ezekieloak]

You know that suicide, self-sabotage and self-destruction are the only endeavors where the outcome can be 100% guaranteed if one adopts them as goals. No gambling that way.  No failure. Just success and unmitigated self-determination.

[jebadiah4]

@ezekieloak cheery

[MyEccentricMind]

@jebadiah4 ikr

[Atraiterm]

@ezekieloak Steady on there, you acid-tripping, university-gradute, philosophical cocksucker, use small words please. Your all fucking supercalifragilisticexpialidoc­ious and Lopadotemakhoselakhogameokrani­oleipsanodrimypotrimmatosilphi­okarabomelitokatakekhymenokikh­lepikossyphophattoperister-ale­ktryonoptokephalliokigklopelei­olagōiosiraiobaphētraganopterý­gōn. Please refrain from using large words or else you'll get pneumonoultramicroscopicsilico­volcanoconiosis all over your lungs.

[bloodyrockfire]

@Atraiterm I suggest you should stop spitting useless lime on both the father and the son.The karma has led you to this instinct of grabbing the presidents brain and squash it with you own while it lack hollow meaning

[ezekieloak]

@ezekieloak Actually, nevermind. I take that back. While still a strong idea - and brilliant in its dullness - it's simply incorrect. The world is full of suicide attempts that aren't successful and they often have horrific results. Just disastrous! They leave the person much worse off than if they wouldn't have even tried. It's amazing what people can live through! I mean, its just hellish and not heroic at all!

But this still, somehow, supports the idea I posted here previously.

[imagodtoya]

@ezekieloak Okey Dokey, but he did say 'suicide' not 'attempted suicide'.

Don't think there is much use in success if you can't enjoy it though and you wouldn't achieve much either.

[imagodtoya]

@ezekieloak So true but boy it would be hard to enjoy your accomplishment afterwards.

'Life is a sexual transmitted disease and the only cure is......' - A comment left in my School year book.

A friend of mine once said 'Fuck Death, it's so terminal'.....I love to laugh at life......

[878commando]

godlike.

[Idig4ad]

LOVE IT!!!!

[1965raj]

Hey, Deryk Thomas is also in a duo called Human Greed. They have a CD on the excellent Lumberton Trading Company label and it features his artwork...

[tromette]

pure poetry

[nasalscarecrow]

Quality.

[INITIALSJE]

thanks

[hereandnow6002]

this song kicks so much ass

[Hias74]

I love that painting. Anyone know who did it?

[sagovic]

Deryk Thomas

[Hias74]

Thanks. He doesn't have a wikipedia page.

[andinoble]

Odd how the German language version of youtube translates "Failure" automatically as "Vertagsverletzung von Swans" which translates back into English as "breach of contract by Swans". Kind of changes the song somehow...

[rschilg]

But then you think of what 'breach of contract' means, unable to fulfil what you set out to do, or something along those lines, and gets back to the term 'fail' or 'failure'... :)

[VivaLucia]

When I get some money I'll kiss it's green skin, and ask it's dirty face, "Where the hell have you been?"

[LindblumScholar]

Does anyone know the name of the song by the swans with lyrics "my cold dead hands" sung over percussive drums?

[fatmanosman]

Yep. It's off of Children of God. I'm pretty sure it's Real Love...definatelly that album though and near the end.

[LindblumScholar]

Thanks so much :)

[TheEmilyscarlotte05]

i love his voice! this is the kind of music for people who really enjoy making (good) music and doesn't care if it can sell

[bmxcanada26]

Creeppyy lol awsome

[azurenscens]

so dark. so dream like. so good.